It all
started in July 2023. First, I was confused because I didn’t quite know what to
expect from being selected for the EIP training. However, growing as an avid
student and now a professional, I sure was excited that I am going to be a part
of a program that focuses on evidence to set out a practice. I mean, as the
name suggested, I was certain that it would beguile me to the fullest. More,
getting an opportunity to learn in the IIPH was simply a dream come true for a
person like me.
First few
weeks of orientation and statistical overview emblematized what to expect in
the forthcoming days. On 25th of July, the team also assigned Dr Shailaja
Tetali as our guide, which was great news for us because she had been a great
mentor for the team of our hospital in the previous ORCB program. As the month
of July came towards an end, we were all geared up to go to Hyderabad, a
beautiful city of pearls and Biryani, as we heard it.
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| Delicious Dining on the last evening at Barbecue Nation |
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| Team Reiyukai |
The stay
at Hyderabad was fantastic. The coziness, easy accessibility and tongue-tingling
culinary tastes of Golconda Hotel were marvelous. Even though some of us felt
that if the classes would have started at 8 am in the morning and ended a bit
earlier, for example at 3PM or thereabouts, the participants would have gotten
opportunities to explore more of Hyderabad; the classroom activities were
outstandingly managed. Despite the limited number of members from the organizing
team at IIPH, their hard work and dedication were clearly seen. A sincere
gratitude is due to them from us who not only cared to comfort us during
lecture hours inside the premises but also facilitated us to have city tours
beyond classes. We truly appreciate the ever-enthusiastic readiness of all the
team out there. By the way, I could not stay put without thanking Hira sir for
managing us a variety of food in the daybreaks.
Coming to
the crux of the matter is a life-changing experience that I had at IIPH. Having
already spent nearly two decades in the field of eye care, I had a number of
exposures to training and workshops. But, truly saying, this training for me
was completely different. Unlike other trainings, which were as if
you-take-it-to-forget because most of them lacked the practical application;
this training expected everyone to be part of a change in their respective
organization. To realize those expectations, the program incorporated
significant emphasis on continued activities after the in-person training. The
team at IIPH including our guide worked with us side by side to find out our
own problem. At once I was surprised how data, that we often overlook, would
become powerful information to guide us for an informed decision. Hence, the workshop
first weaponized us with a skill to critically assess the data to find the
gaps. The gap showed everything about the participating organizations: most of
the Nepalese hospital’s revolved around faltering data recording and management
systems. After pinpointing the gap, we were to brainstorm in formulating our
Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. The group work was very absorbing because
members of a team comprised people from a variety of backgrounds. It was really
good to learn many things from the other members of my own team which I would
have never done if I did not take part in this training. Cramming in the
classroom and formulating the detailed PDSA cycle throughout a week imparted us
a great confidence and helped to grow us as a team. We felt like the
accomplished ones. But when we came back to our own workplace and started what
was planned, we were hit hard by the sudden waves of awakening that the real
learning was yet to begin.
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| Prof GVS Murthy handing certificate |
Our PDSA
project was truly unique in the sense that we chose to undertake enhancing
tele-ophthalmology service: a novel offering without any pre-existing data.
Designing a plan inside a four-wall-boundary would be one thing and going out
in the field to execute the same plan would be completely another thing. This
happened to us because sometimes we would then see the process flow chart was
incomplete and some other times we had to scribble the fishbone root cause
analysis all over again. Sometimes this modification and sometimes that
adjustment, we came across completing the first PDSA cycle. By the end of the
first cycle, we had a great understanding not only about the core of the
tele-ophthalmology process and PDSA, but also about our organization and the
things that we have least control of. Dr Shailaja also made a visit to oversee
our project and encourage us to move ahead. By the end of the second cycle, we
are more learned. We can now see a bigger picture how the PDSA cycles would
finally take its bearing.
This amazing transformation of an individual from an
everyday clinician to become a consummate member of a team of change-makers in
an organization can never be put into mere words. Moreover, if we could apply
the PDSA concept in tele-ophthalmology, we can equally and even more
efficiently do it in every aspect of operations in our organization or hospital.
And, to our own life as well. When we keep on applying this concept, who knows
the future has in its womb a game-changer feat.
I would,
wholeheartedly, like to extend my gratitude to my organization, Reiyukai Eiko
Masunaga Eye Hospital, for providing me an opportunity to participate in such
an amazing program. Immense thanks also go to team SEVA, from home and abroad,
for this well-thought-of arrangement to bridge the learners with the experts.
Last but not the least; IIPH truly deserves a big round of applause for designing
this engaging course content and for delivering it so scrupulously. We have completed the two cycles of PDSA as of
yet, and one more cycle to go. We pine for sharing our learning and achievement
soon after it concludes.
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